Key ring construction



Jan. 30, 1940. HE 2,188,367

KEY RING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan: 20, 1958 Patented Jan. 30, 1940 KEY RING CONSTRUCTION Gustav A. Loercher, Greenwood, R. L, assignor to Carl-Art, Inc., a corporationot' Rhode Island Application January 20, 1938 serial No; 185,873

8 Claims.

My present invention relates to the jewelry art, an has particular reference to a novel construction of key rings. 7 c

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a key ring which will accommodate a arge number of keys, and. which locks the keys against accidental or inadvertent removal.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel key ring which is readily opened to permit the insertion or removal of a key or keys, and is readily closed without exertion of substantial pressure or force.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction having a small number of readily manufactured parts, easily assembled together, whereby the cost of manufacture is reduced.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in. view, my invention consists of, a novel arrangement of parts'more fully disclosed in the detailed description. following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically definedin the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing:

Fig.1 is a plan view of a novel key ring;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof;

Fig.3 is a view similar toFig. 1, showi t ey r in pen position;

Fig.v 4 is an enlarged perspective view similar to Fig. 3, showing the back of the key ring; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

It-has been found desirable to manufacture a key ring which may be easily locked to prevent accidental and inadvertent opening, and thus prevent loss of a key or keys, and which requires very little effort or force to close the key ring and to maintain the parts against accidental opening. To this end, I have designed a key ring having a swinging head, which may be swung so as to open a passageway for the insertion or removal of a key or keys, the head hava lock device pivoted thereto which may be swung with very slight effort, and which securely locks the parts when in closed position, against accidental opening.-

Referring to thedrawing, the novel key ring ill includes an open ring II to one end of which head I2 is hingedly secured by means of a rivet E3, the ring I I being preferably of spring material, and the head I2 being preferably of stamped sheet metal. As is clearly disclosed in Fig. 4, the free end of the ring II is milled or shaped to provide a depressed portion I4 and an upstanding tooth l5, and the head I2, within which the free ring end isremovably received, has a slotted portion I6 spaced from the free head end to provide an; overhang tip I'I, so as, to accommodatethe tooth I5 and the depressed portion I4of the ring end. The head portion I2 may therefore be moved over so as to permit'relatively free engagement and nesting of the ring end therein, as shown in Fig. 5, with the tooth portion I5-positioned in the slotted portion I6 and the recess I4 positioned. underneath the tip ll of the head. In thisposition, the parts are in engaged relation, but can be readily separated by pressing inwardly on the ringand then lifting the head portion I2.

'The'lower side of the free end of the ring I] has anotch I8 formed therein, and. an, arm I9 ispivotally secured to the head II, asby means of a rivet 20, the arm I9 having a tooth end 21 and a movably engageable finger piece 22, whereby the arm I9 may be manually moved so as to snap. the end 2I pastthe edge 23 of the notch I8,

the headhaving a slot 24 in one side thereof to permit the necessary inward movement of the finger 22. When thetooth 2 I'is so positioned, see Fig. 5,,it does not securely look within the notch I8,flbut-maybe readilyswung. outwardly to dis; engage therefrom; since the arm I9 is retained in'the position shown in Fig. 5 because a slight eifort is necessary to bring the end ofv the tooth 2| past the'edge 23, the head I2 cannot be swung away or detached from the free end of the ring I I, because such separation requires a slight in .wardmovement of the free ring end so as tobring the. tooth'l5 below the end ll, which movementfis "effectively prevented'by engagement of the notch I8 with the tooth 2I.

Aligned openings 24a are provided in the sides of the head I2 to provide a passageway for receiving the snap hook of a key chain, and .the hinged end of the ring II is notched as indicated at 25 to abut against the end 26 of the head thus provide a limiting stop for the separating swinging movement of the parts.

While I have described the novel arrangement of the parts as specific to a key ring construc- "ill used in connection with a hasp and staple such as difierent designs of key rings and forkeyless locks, Without departing from the spirit and the,

detent and tooth on the other member, and additional means for releasably locking said parts in engaged relation.

2. In an article of the type described, a ring member, of resilient material, a head having an end wall member and of channel shape having an end wall and two sides and hinged to said ring member at one end thereof, cooperating detachably engageable parts on the free end of said ring member and said head member comprising a tooth and a'detent on one member and a cooperating detent' and tooth on the other member, and a movable "element on said head member removably contacting said ring member for releasably locking'said parts in engaged relation.

" 3. In anarticle of the type described, a ring hinged to said ring member at one end thereof, cooperating detachably, engageabl'e parts on the free end of said ring member and the end wall of said head member,'compris-ing a tooth on the ring end'and a recess on the head, and a movable element' on said head memberremovably contacting said ring member for releasably locking-said parts in engaged relation. I

' 4. In an article of the type described, a ring 40 member of resilient material, a head member hinged to said ring member at one end thereof,

cooperating detachably engageable parts on the free end of said ring member and said head member, said ring member having a notch, and a manually movable arm hinged to said head member and having a tooth engageable with said notch, said ringmember being movable outwardly against its spring tension to: permit engagement of said arm tooth with said notch, and springing back to releasably lock said arm tooth in said notch. f

5. In an article of the type described, a ring member of resilient material, a head member hinged to said ring member at one end thereof,

member of resilient material, a head member' cooperating detachably engageable parts on the free end of said ring member and said head member, comprising a tooth on one member and a detent on the other member, said ring member having a notch, and a manually movable arm hinged to said head member and having a tooth engageable with said notch, said ring member being movable outwardly against its spring tension to permit engagement of said arm tooth with said notch, and springing back to releasably lock said arm tooth in said notch.

6. In an article of the type described, a ring member of resilient material, a head member hinged to said ring member at oneend thereof, cooperating detachably engageable parts on the free end of said ring member and said head member, comprising a tooth on the ring end and a recess on thehead, said ring member having a notch, and a manually movable arm hinged to said head member and having a tooth engageable with said notch, said ring member being movable outwardly against its spring tension to permit engagement of said arm tooth with said notch, and springing back to releasably lock said arm tooth in said notch. f I

'7. In a key ring, a ring member of resilient material, a head member hinged to said ring member at one end thereof and having spaced sides to receive the free end of the ring member, said head member being slotted at its free end to provide-a recess and an overhang tip, and'said ring member having a tooth and a recess at its free end adapted to respectively releasablyengage said head member recess and said overhang tip, said ring member having an inner groove,

and said head member having an arm hinged thereto provided with a tooth engageable with said groove.

8. In a key ring, a ring member of resilient material, a head member hinged to said ring member at one end thereof and having spaced sides to receive the free end of the ring member, said head member being slotted at its free end to provide a recess and an overhang tip, and said ring member having a tooth and a recess at its free end adapted to respectively releasablyfengage said head member recess and said overhang tip, said ring member having an inner groove, and said head member having an arm hinged thereto provided with a tooth engageable with said groove, said arm' having a manually engageable finger and said head member having a slot to receive said finger.

GUSTAV A. LOERCHER. 

